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Soaring oil prices could lead to increased fuel bills for drivers in 2018, according to RAC Fuel Watch.
The price of a barrel of oil has gone above $70 for the first time in more than three years, and the motoring organisation says there is likely to be a knock-on effect on forecourts.
The average price of unleaded petrol in the UK currently stands at 121.27p a litre, with diesel at 123.97p - both having risen from a 2017 low of 114.33p for petrol and 115.02p for diesel.
The RAC expects this to rise still further, with prices having gone up nearly 5p a litre for petrol and 3p a litre for diesel since the start of November.
The organisation is fearful that $70 a barrel could become the new norm for 2018, something it says would be bad news for motorists without a significant strengthening of the pound, which would keep wholesale prices in check due to fuel being traded in dollars.
The RAC's current pump price forecast reveals a fairly static picture but this could change rapidly if the oil price remains above $70.
Even prior to the recent oil high two supermarket retailers added 0.5p to prices in one day, and the average prices of petrol and diesel in the UK have gone up by nearly a penny since Christmas.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "Oil hitting $70 a barrel is potentially very bad for motorists who are already having to get used to paying 7p a litre more for petrol and 9p more for diesel than they did last July.
"If oil stays at this level, pump price hikes will be almost inevitable. With households across the country still feeling the cost of Christmas this is not the start to 2018 anyone would have wanted. It could also negatively affect business and further fuel inflation."
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